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Masters of Ukiyo-e

Hokusai and Hiroshige

Ukiyo-e woodblock prints have carved themselves into the consciousness as one of Japan's iconic representative arts.

Established and then flourishing during the Edo Period, ukiyo-e inspired artists like Hishikawa Moronobu with his mastery of line, Torii Kiyonaga with focus on courtesans and female beauty and the enigmatic Sharaku whose mysteriously short career and identity only added to the appeal of his kabuki actor portraits.

But of all the masters of the craft, perhaps none have had as great an international appeal as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Most famous for his Thirty-six Views of Mt Fuji, Hokusai represented an almost anti-establishment approach to his art. His works moved ukiyo-e from classic portraits of kabuki actors and courtesans to the much broader world of nature. With bold images Hokusai's stylised manipulation of his subject always pushed the boundaries of his own understanding. On his death bed, Hokusai was reported to have said, "If only Heaven will give me just another ten years, just another five more years. Then I could become a real painter."

On the other hand, Hiroshige, perhaps best exemplified by his The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, sought a more gentle and ephemeral sense to his art. Though inspired by Hokusai, Hiroshige relied more on space, ambience and natural observation to bring his works to life. Known for his images of famous places, the power and impressiveness of his works seem tinged with a sense of the humility of the human scale. His death poem, reiterating his desire to see the famous places in the world beyond, only reinforce that.

It is hard to say whether or not these two masters will ever be surpassed. Their influence on ukiyo-e is real and lasting. But if not, then admirers of their creations can at least find inspiration in the museums and galleries dedicated to their art.

A Japanese Permanent Resident, I drool over proper soba and sushi while Japanese aesthetics ticks all the right boxes for me.With over 100 published articles on Japan as well as 5 English language books written in a traditional Japanese style, I also happen enjoy writing. Funny that...I'm also the Regional Partner for Tokyo, Japan's never ending capital, so if you've anything to say about Tokyo - or Japan in general - don't be shy and contact with me via sleiman.azizi@japantravel.com